Pros and Cons of Egg Donation

Children are a beautiful miracle. Sadly, not everyone is able to enjoy the wonders of parenthood. That’s why egg donation is the best possible gift that any struggling couple can receive. It’s an act of compassion and kindness that is both rewarding and fulfilling.

Before a woman can go through the actual process of becoming an egg donor, she needs to undergo a series of tests. Each test has the purpose of determining whether the potential donor is healthy, both physically and mentally.

Egg donation is a life-altering experience that has both its pros and cons. Before deciding to become a donor, women need to be aware of both the advantages and disadvantages of egg donation. Hopefully, this list will help.

The pros of egg donation

1. It allows childless couples the chance to start a family

Just the thought of being able to give the gift of parenthood to any couple or individual is enough for a woman to want to become an egg donor. It’s a feeling like no other, and allowing someone to experience the wonders of having children is an act of pure compassion. While some couples choose adoption to start their family, others prefer this alternative. It allows them to use their own sperm, which means that the child will be biologically theirs.

2. It allows donor women to receive free medical testing

Since egg donation is a serious matter, all women that wish to donate their eggs need to undergo a series of tests before being allowed to become donors. Due to their serious nature, these tests are elaborate and expensive. However, for women donating their eggs, these tests are free. It’s important to test for any genetic mutations, and also for infectious diseases such as Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, Syphilis, and of course, HIV.

3. It may allow you to be a part of the child’s life

Whether or not the donor is a part of the child’s life depends on the parents receiving the egg. If they are willing to let the egg donor have (limited) contact with the child throughout its life, this can be a beautiful opportunity for the donor to watch the life they helped conceive grow. It’s not uncommon to give visitation rights to egg donors which can benefit all parties.

4. It comes with financial benefits

Although plenty of women donate their eggs as a purely selfless act, it’s no secret that they receive generous financial compensation. This compensation is for their time and dedication, and it also covers all traveling and legal expenses. The amount of compensation the donors receive ranges from $6,000 to $15,000. Many donors use this payment to achieve one or more of their financial goals.

5. It informs women about their fertility

During the evaluation process, women are able to find out quite a lot about their fertility potential. Knowing more about their fertility allows them to contemplate having a child of their own. On the other hand, it may encourage them to freeze their eggs for when they are ready both physically and emotionally to become a parent.

The cons of egg donation

1. It can be stressful

The whole process does take some time and patience. For some women, this causes anxiety and depression. That’s why each donor needs to undergo multiple psychological tests before donating, to determine their state of mind. Furthermore, it’s not uncommon for women to feel responsible for the life they helped create. Some women have a hard time dealing with the fact that they won’t be involved in the child’s life.

2. It may cause irreversible physical changes

Permanent changes to the ovulation cycle present one of the largest risks for egg donors. The fertility medication immensely stimulates women’s ovaries. This is to ensure that the ovaries produce operable eggs. Ultimately, this stimulation may cause monthly swelling for some women, which is quite uncomfortable. Additionally, some women experience early onset menopause.

3. It may cause personal pregnancy

Due to the fact that donors are required to take fertility medication throughout the entire process, it’s quite common that they experience a personal pregnancy. This phenomenon occurs if not all the eggs have been collected. Furthermore, it can also occur if some of the eggs were created prematurely.

4. It’s usually an anonymous process

More often than not, the donation process is anonymous. The program receives payment from the couple that wants a child, and the program then pays the donor. Although sometimes this process is considered what’s best for all parties included, sometimes it just creates questions and doubts. Some couples find it easier to completely exclude the donor from the life of their child, which may leave the donor wondering about the child’s well-being.

5. It takes a lot of time and effort

Retrieving eggs is a procedure that requires minor surgery that takes up to 15 minutes. The donor needs to be sedated during the procedure and may be disoriented afterward. After that surgery, the donor needs to have a full day’s rest. Complications, however rare, include bleeding, blood clots, and even infections. It’s important to know all the possible outcomes before deciding to become a donor.

Donating eggs to struggling couples or individuals is something that requires patience and understanding. While it is an incredibly humane act, donors should inform themselves of the pros and cons surrounding egg donation before coming to a decision.

The main thing to remember is that egg donation is a process that should not be taken lightly. Women who are contemplating becoming egg donors need to take into consideration their own feelings before taking the next step. Also, becoming an egg donor simply for financial reasons is quite common, but it still requires a lot of soul-searching.

Melinda Guy is the founder of Family Tree Surrogacy, LLC a full service surrogacy agency in San Diego, California. Melinda is also an experienced surrogate. In 2001, Melinda delivered twins for a local family. With over 18 years industry experience Melinda and her team go out of their way to guide and support anyone with the desire to create and start building a family through surrogacy. Melinda is a member of a variety of professional organizations including the Society for Ethics in Egg Donation and Surrogacy, Path2Parenthood, Resolve and the National Infertility Association. Melinda is committed to supporting and facilitating matches with integrity, purpose and a passion for service and changing lives.

About Us

Family Tree Surrogacy Center, LLC is here to help your family grow. Our team has over 18 years experience and we would love to help you with your journey of becoming a parent.